SCHOOLS and their staff have been recognised for teaching excellence after what has been described as an “immensely challenging year”.

A total of 607 nominations have been made in the Essex Teaching Awards which aim to recognise individual staff members and teams.

And Colchester schools have shone through following an unprecedented past 12 months.

Headteachers from our area put forward for recognition include Richard Potter of Home Farm Primary School, Lexden, who was described as “outstanding”.

The nominator said: “Mr Potter works so hard to make sure the children are 100 per cent cared for and are happy.

“He has great leadership skills and a great wit in difficult times. The way he and the school as a team have coped with the pandemic has been outstanding; we feel blessed our son is at Home Farm.”

Elsewhere, Sarah Stevenson, of Langenhoe Community Primary School, was praised as having made the school “a real community."

Bridget Harris, of St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary School, Colchester, was called “the most professional, inspiring and talented headteacher I have ever worked with” by one nominator.

In another category, whole teams and entire schools could be nominated.

The site team at Thomas, Lord Audley School have gone “above and beyond” to ensure the smooth opening of the school through the pandemic.

They were praised for building four outdoor hand washing facilities from scratch, as well as reconfiguring the room layouts in every classroom.

The pastoral team at Paxman Academy, Colchester, was said to consistently support vulnerable families when they needed it most and work “tirelessly” with the students.

Other schools and teams nominated include Chappel Primary School, Thrive Provision and the pastoral team at Colne School and College, Brightlingsea, the senior leadership, administration, modern foreign languages and pastoral teams at St Helena School, Stanway School and all staff at St Thomas More’s Primary School.

Nominations for teaching and non-teaching staff in a primary school were received by Georgia Hughes, Lara Nathie and Malcolme Price at Monkwick Junior School, and Sarah Linton at Stanway Fiveways School.

Other teachers were also nominated from Colchester Royal Grammar, St Helena, Colne Community, Philip Morant, Thomas, Lord Audley and Stanway schools.